Voters could weigh in on eliminating Flint ombudsman's office

FLINT, Michigan — For years, unsuccessful attempts have been made to eliminate the embattled city ombudsman’s office, a position created decades ago as the watchdog of City Hall.

Now, the ombudsman’s office is back in the hotseat as the Flint City Council discusses eliminating it to cut costs — even though voters three years ago soundly rejected a proposal to abolish the office.

Newly elected 4th Ward Councilman Josh Freeman is leading the charge, saying the cash-strapped city could put two police officers on the streets with the savings.

The city recently learned it would lose $2.7 million in state aid, and budget cuts are looming.

“Quite frankly, I’m tired of cutting police and fire,” Freeman said. “When voters are looking at funding two police officers or that office, I think that choice would be an easy one.”

Purifoy

But current Ombudswoman Brenda Purifoy said her office serves as an independent checks and balances system on the branches of city government, and eliminating it would deprive residents.

The ombudsman’s office was created 34 years ago and is required under the city Charter. It was designed to investigate citizen complaints and help navigate city bureaucracy.

Flint and Detroit are the only two communities in the state with an ombudsman, and the office has battled claims that it’s an unnecessary luxury in the face of looming budget cuts.

Eliminating the office would require putting a Charter amendment before voters.

Freeman requested the council vote on putting a proposal to abolish the ombudsman’s office on the ballot. A resolution is expected to come before the council at an upcoming meeting.

The office already has endured painful budget cuts and operates on about $210,000 annually, Purifoy said.

As for the claim that eliminating the office would fund more police, Purifoy said most of the complaints she receives are against the police department.

“I don’t see how this would save money if it’s taking away what the citizens want,” she said. “The taxpayers pay for this office and this service.”

Flint resident Mike Smith said the ombudsman’s office is worth the expense. Smith and his wife, Ann Smith, recently called the office after getting nowhere with a complaint regarding an abandoned, blighted lot on his street.

“Within two weeks, stuff was happening,” said Smith, 45. “It’s good to have a decent place where people can call and get things done.”

Freeman

In 2008-09 budget year, the ombudsman’s office took in 823 complaints and conducted 275 investigations. Purifoy said she could have conducted more investigations, but she was the only staff member for most of the year because of budget cuts.

She hired two part-timers this summer, including Anita Brown, who’s worked in the office since 1993.

“People need to know they can come here and get help,” Brown said.

But Freeman said the city council has the same investigative powers as the ombudsman, and the city also has a standards of conduct board to handle questions of ethics.

“To be one of only two communities in the state who has one, when we’re looking at the possibility of laying off police officers, that’s ridiculous,” he said. “The bottom line is, we have to cut departments that aren’t needed anymore.”

Ninth Ward Councilman Scott Kincaid said there are several aspects of the Charter that need to be reviewed, not just the ombudsman’s office.

Instead of amending the Charter in pieces, Kincaid recommended the city form a committee to review the document, adopted in 1974.

“Since the Charter is 30 years old, maybe we ought to take a look at it,” Kincaid said.

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